CONTENTS2 4 5 Ethical Shorting (Business) Dreams (Poetry)

11 Cover Story: Rminiscences du Cambodge (Travel) 15 Baptism in the Skating Rink (Leisure/Sport) 17 The Divine Intervention (Cricket) 19 One to all (Philosophy) 23 Trends - Summer 2011 (Fashion) 29 Book Review - Outliers 31 Scars (Prose)

apologize for the indefinite delay of the second issue. I was caught up with office work, and was a little disoriented. And one it was past April, I was caught in a vicious circle of trying to bring out something worthwhile to compensate for the delay. Eventually, it turned out I did it in a three day burst of sudden motivation. I should send it out before the inertia bug catched me again!

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MY SPACE

This issue is for April to June. Another issue will be next

month, and after that it will be a bimonthly affair. I have realized that a monthly magazine is too much work for just myself, coupled with all my other engagments. Plus, it is tougher to get enough material from people every month. So two months seems ideal. Good news is that I am back to writing and reading a lot, after a period of drought in April. I was going to include a comic Hindi story this time, but it needs more work. Meanwhile, I have another of my stories, which I am not totally satisfied with, but something is better than nothing. The magazine didnt seem to be complete without a story in there. And perhaps negative feedback on it will galvanize me to write better and more often!

- Basu

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ETHICAL SHORTINGexposure to stock markets, let me try to explain the concept of long/short. When you buy a stock you go long the company i.e. you benefit when the stock price goes up. When you short a stock you bet against the company, benefitting when the stock price falls. This does sound treacherous and is to a certain extent. This theme has been cashed on by Hollywood with several flicks showing people shorting a stock and then burning down factories or sinking a ship to gain profits as companies bled. Many corporates are blamed (Ambani Jr. blamed the crash of ADAG stocks on this) of shorting their peers aggressively to create panic which leads to further selling and an eventual decline of the company. Shorting feeds on panic and ultimately becomes a size game.

By Munendra Singh

together! For those who might not have much

Two words which are generally not used

say he is not the most likeable chap walking around Wall Street. People generally hate bankers but in his case its a bit of both envy and hate. When you benefit as people lose their homes, financial system melts down, factories close, people get thrown out of their jobs, and the biggest economy in the world goes into recession, you shouldnt expect anything else.

of England battle. He is called the man who broke the bank of England. Not a bad name for a financier/ philanthropist. In 1992, the guy shorted British Pound to the tune of USD 10 bn. So essentially he betted that pound will fall. British government had joined ERM, an exchange rate mechanism, just about two years back. Under this, the British pound was essentially fixed against a basket of European currencies and it was governments responsibility to not allow major When you start shorting a companys stock in bulk, fluctuations. Soros realized that economic conditions were majorly different across Europe, especially people get scared. They want to get out leading to between UK and Germany and was convinced that immense selling pressure. Many companies have Bank of England would have to devalue the currency. strategies based on triggers in place to minimize So he betted big (he actually said in a later interview losses. People might have pledged the companys that he wanted to go short by more than USD 15bn stock and taken loan against it. As the stock tanks which would have been about 5% of Indias GDP). margin calls are issued, collaterals have to be sold. All They eventually did devalue pound and Soros made this happens in all a huge selling frenzy, more like a more than USD 1bn in profit. It led to the fall of self fulfilling prophecy. John Majors government and UK falling deep into recession. Needless to say people hate the guy and If you followed the news surrounding the Lehman whenever a crisis emerges in any part of the world crash and the housing crisis his is the first name which comes to primary reason for the recession Shorting is the art of making peoples minds. Several countries that followed, then you would fluctuations in their money by predicting dooms have blamedhim. have heard of CDS/CDO. John currencies on Paulson, owner of one of the day. biggest hedge fund massively So as you can see shorting is the art of shorted CDOs, a credit derivative making money by predicting dooms day. Its walking instrument whose assets are generally home loans, on other peoples dead bodies. Its laughing all the auto loans, credit card receipts etc. He is currently on way to bank when people lose their lifes savings. So trial along with is it all bad? Why do we even allow such evil? Coz it Goldman Sachs for some illegal activities serves a very important purpose, price discovery. surrounding the same trade. The guy made millions For anything to be priced properly in this world you in trade as the housing market in US was brought to need a balance of buys and sells. If something is its knees. Many people predicted the fall but he was overly valued we need shrewd investors who realize the one who actually made tons of money. Its safe to that and bring the price down to what it should

Another famous short was the George Soros vs Bank

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ETHICAL SHORTINGbe. Its like when you go to a vegetable market and the guy is charging 50 bucks for a kg of onions. You stop buying forcing him to bring the price down. Its the demand and supply economics at its core. Still nobody cries foul when people keep pushing home prices up (we are currently in such a bubble in India), driving them to ridiculous levels. It somehow doesnt feel wrong when markets get overvalued. Shorting is something which is misunderstood. Exchanges around the worlds have been forced to ban naked shorts (pure speculative short) and in extreme times any form of shorting to protect stocks from tanking. Agreed there are sharks out there who keep piling on shorts and drive companies to bankruptcy just to make a fortune. But without a healthy balance we can never have proper price discovery and an asset bubble is as dangerous as collapsing stocks, its just that bubbles dont look so bad optically. sole ranger who is betting on dooms day and in case your call goes wrong you are alone in your grief. So structurally it is a harder trade compared to a long. This maybe a reason why short-only fund (longonly funds are quite popular and widespread) dont exist. However, it sure is quite exciting when it works. Making money betting on recession is that much sweeter as compared to making money along with the flow in a bull run. So we will always have these Dr Dooms or modern day Nostradamus betting on the end of the world and once in every few years seeing their prophecy turn true coz markets do tend to get carried away.

Shorting serves two purposes price balancing, and hedging. Shortingserves another important purpose, hedging. Traders use it to hedge out various positions that they have on their book so that they only have the desired level of exposure. Its like you own gold currently and are looking to sell it 6 months down the line. You feel that the gold prices are peaking right now and dont want to take the risk of them falling when its your time to sell. So you go ahead and short gold futures. If gold prices falls then you make money on your short but lose out on the price that you get for your gold, essentially realizing todays price. You are protected against gold price movements now. Major companies use shorting as hedging tool to hedge against interest rate movements, FX movements, commodity price movements etc.

At a personal level it does tend to play with your

About the Author:Munendra Singh is an engineer from IIT Powai, an investment banker, and a wannabe entrepreneur and stock market expert. But for me he is family. We share our passion for cricket. Barring that we are poles apart in every respect. Perhaps that is why we enjoy each others company and point of view.

mind. You start to hope for the worst. A quake in Japan and more bombings by Gaddafi serves your purpose. Doesnt mean you necessarily want those things to happen or you are happy that they happened. But you sure did benefit coz of them. It is also generally a contrarian call. You become the

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DREAMSBy Pali Tripathi

Dreams are a queer mixture of altered realities That may have never occurred the way they appear That may never show themselves in this world Yet, are real. altered. but real I know because today I dreamed fire In waves, warm and worrisome It fell on my toes. Felt like my feet under your legs It slithered and I felt it on my waist A known touch, wrapped in a pair of arms And before I knew, it was everywhere Cheeks ablaze, lips warm, eyes closed Cocooned and then I saw myself burn In orange hues and shades of red Sparks, blazes, crushes - all mine I plucked flames and pressed them in my palms They smelled of rain on earth, of coffee and bitter chocolate Seeking, seducing, snatching, sinning.and completing. And then all that was left was gray colored After fire.after dream.same difference Yes, I dreamed fire today But who knows, may have been you.

About the Author: Pali Tripathi is a management consultant at one of the big four consultant firms. Poetry is a passion that keeps her going in a hectic corporate life.

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COVER STORY

Rminiscences du CambodgeBy Hanumant Paliwal

Some experiences in life leave an indelible impression and Cambodia was one such! Be it the beauty of the Angkor Wat, vastness of the Angkor Thom, or the intricate beauty of Banteay Srei, every place has its own character and a stamp of human ambition. While there is a lot that can be said and learnt about the place, people are advised to go and experience it themselves.

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COVER STORY

It turns out that Angkor is a world phenomenon -

the 12 seater van that we took to Angkor had two Dutch, three Aussies, two Brits and three Indians besides the Khmer driver. It took us a good six hours to cover 240kms from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, a thoroughly enriching experience as we had a lot of people share their experiences of South East Asia. The Dutch had been to all continents on the planet except Antartica, the Aussies had just covered Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam by road, an inspiration for me to do it on two wheels. Only the future will decide where I get with that.

Petronas Towers, Malaysia

I began my trip to Cambodia one fine January evening

via Kuala Lumpur, and had just enough time to get a glimpse of the Truly Asia! It is a place worth visiting sometime. We had slightly more than 8 hrs of idle The moat including the angkor complex time between two flights which we made the most of in this short visit to KL city. But with Cambodia on our mind there was nothing else which could have On reaching Siem Reap, which is the closest town to kept our excitement down while getting on the final Angkor, and base for all excursions into the Angkor flight to Phnom Penh. Archaeological Park, we first checked into our Hotel Soria Moria and then picked up the $60 three day Phnom Penh airport exceeded our expectations. We pass for visiting the park. It was almost dusk so we were pleasantly surprised at the apparent cleanliness made a beeline for the Wat and were just in time of the city and beauty of its old architecture. With an to catch the sun disappearing over it. After years of evening to spend here, we lodged at the Eureka Villas dreaming about the Wat finally I found myself there and went for a stroll down the Sisowath Quay. We and was awestruck. The first sight which mesmerized dined at the famous Foreign Correspondents Caf, us was a huge water body with an ancient wall on the the only place open during the war years. Phnom other side. This turned out to be the largest moat I Penh is to be explored at a leisurely pace and we have seen till date. The wall on the other side was the planned to see it towards the end of our trip; so we Wats enclosure. were off the next day to a dream called Angkor.

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COVER STORY

My first glimpse of Angkor Wat. A sea of tourists flowing out in the closing hours and grandeur, the Angkor Wat is a testimony to human creativity and its thirst for excellence. It inspires both awe and humility, giving birth to thought, which when combined with passion, drives us to think that the impossible can be achieved. Today, in its time beaten and under restoration avatar, the awe inspiring Wat beckons us to imagine its grandeur in the 12th century when it was constructed.

A marvel for humanity, a symbol of might, spirituality

Reflection of glory and devotion - Angkor Wat; first morning light

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COVER STORY

the Wat is the soul there is a body which needs more than just the 7 days that I spent there to explore; I am willing to live by the memories of the soul until I get to see the rest for these are much more than what one can soak in in one trip.

But Cambodia is more than just Angkor Wat, while

A silhouette of vat in the morning light

Continued in the next issue ...

Scenes from Mahabharat: Lord Bhism on a bed of arrows

About the Author:Hanumant is an avid traveller with a passion for history. Besides regularly touring India on his Enfield, he has now set his eyes on travelling the world in search of history and leisure One of the 4 ponds signifying the holy rivers of india

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BAPTISM IN THE SKATING RINKBy Soham Pradhan

Ice Skating, Vienna dictates of my mind and seemed to have a life of their arm around both my friends I was This weekend I felt that my mental juices had own! So with an soldier martyred on the battlefield the picture of a stopped flowing because I had not learnt anything even before the opening bullet was shot. And I held new in quite some time. So I toyed with the idea of on tight to them for dear life. May the Bodhisattvas writing yet another test in finance. But fate saved me smile on them, for suffering such embarrassment. But in the form of my friend Shailaja. She was in town and my mind was past caring - this was ridiculous! After knew that I was interested in trying out ice skating some time, in the interest of efficiency they decided and so proposed going down to the Harbor Front to take turns holding my arm. This sent a sickeningly Centre skating rink with Mei and Pradeep. crawling feeling up my spine, when I found that I dont have a support on one side, when my legs were Now if you have forgotten the feeling when you doing their best trying to bring me down! But it got were a babe and were trying to stand up for the first better with time. time, and for some unfathomable reason you want to relive that experience, then you should try ice skating. There was a guy who was looking on at my obviously The first time I stepped on the ice my world went into awkward steps and shouted to me Dont look down, a surreal slippery blur. It was like discovering my legs look ahead to where you are going. It sounded for the first time! like advice for a life time from a spiritual guru, and I wondered how to apply it to the situation at hand. Then Mei and Pradeep graciously took me by both But it helped. With the mind not really trying to figure arms and I started out on the rink. May the Buddha out how to do the balancing act it was so much easier smile on them, for my legs had mutinied against the to just let the body find its balance.

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BAPTISM IN THE SKATING RINKhurried conference between Mei and Pradeep. They nodded their heads and passed solemn judgement that I was taking very long steps and thus losing control. So Mei said Try to take small steps and Pradeep said Just try to walk on the ice, dont try to skate. So I moved forward on the ice and repeated that as a mantra to myself - take small steps, take small steps - oh no! Here is that slippery feeling! Oh I am going down! Compose myself, take small steps, take small steps. What in the name of $%^*^*(&(*! Compose, take small steps, take small steps - may the fires of hell burn this cursed ice*&$%#@! Take small steps take small steps - after some time I realized that if I take really wee steps that will put a geisha to shame, I can angle the blades of my skates so that my toes point towards each other and push the ice and support my legs. Then I put my arms out in front of me in an arc and basically trudged on like a Godzilla on ice skates rampaging among the skyscrapers.

But progress still deluded me. There was a small

steps around the rink, and completed my test by fire, oops ice!

Then Mei said that until I fall down I would neverreally learn. Now in all due honesty I was thinking isnt not falling down the name of the game here? So I let go of her hand and quite naturally I fell on my back. Once my bottom was duly introduced to the ice, the fear of falling fell away. Now I had to concentrate on the balancing act. But apparently my backside and the ice were interested in getting to know each other better, so I proceeded to fall down twice more. But there was no longer that gnawing apprehension. Some part of me acknowledged how falling down ignominiously in front of a whole crowd of people feels like. It feels pretty inconsequential in the grand scheme of the universe, so what the heck!

After

some time I fell into the simple routine of breathing, looking ahead, taking small steps and imagining the blades biting the ice. So Mei and Pradeep felt that time had come for test of the day. Like the lion that has to jump through the ring of fire as the final act in the circus I had to go around the rink once without either of them following me. They had better things to do in the evening like having dinner, than coaching a neophyte skater and I sympathize with that. So I proceeded laboriously to take my baby

About the Author:Soham Pradhan has been working in the banking industry in Toronto for the past couple of years. He is interested in hiking,writing,exploring new places, and trying new things.

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THE DIVINE INTERVENTIONUDRS SystemBy Priyadarshan Gupta

campaign, expressed that the UDRS is a big confusion it would not at Sunday afternoons are usually boring for me and for him. Sorry to say butmore if by any all be exciting and entertaining any chance India the same was the case on that day. With nothing loses out on the cup that counts just because one substantial to do, I decided to turn on my antique man begs to differ from the truth. little - thankfully color - television to catch the India vs Ireland World Cup group stage match. That was the day when I first laid my eyes on the UDRS technology, Here again I am perplexed with understanding and which is employed in the ongoing World Cup; not so justifying the human folly and I have no definite late for a cricket non-enthusiast. For lesser-learned answer to it. Probably the people are so much individuals like me, the abbreviation stands for imbued with the sci-fi movies these days that they Umpire Decision Review System and as the name have missed out the distinction between benevolent suggests is a process to review the decisions made by and sinister technologies. Recall the all-powerful an on-field umpire. Although currently in a trial phase Schwarzenegger from The Terminator who hailed the initiative has been lauded by almost everyone in from the future to bring the doomsday of mankind, the cricketing fraternity with the exception of a few or the invincible Agent Smith from Matrix who dared such as the Team India. to enslave all the human minds. I know all that is just an over-exaggeration and too early a futuristic It would not be preposterous to say that we the thought but you get the idea. superior beings usually are apprehensive at first of Different dimensions the newest bit of technology in town and it takes time for us to accommodate the newer species. Why is it so? Well I dont have a definite answer but that is The dissent towards the gaze of a watchful eye is just an inherent human behavior. What on the face not exclusive to cricket. We have Hawk-eye in tennis of this earth could possibly be the reason for not for reviewing the referees decision and you must welcoming this change. Some say it would simply be surprised to know that it is opposed by both rob the game of its virtue of unpredictability, which Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. The same Hawkis partly attributed to fallibility in making decisions, eye technology is extensively used in the game of and hence would directly impact the entertainment Snooker however for a different purpose which is quotient of the game. Some see it as a breach of enhancing the spectators experience. respect and sense of judgement which would have an adverse effect to the extent that would lead to a I strongly feel that the analogues Goal-line complete elimination of an on-field umpire. To sum technology is now a much awaited change in the up all accusations, this nosy act is allegedly against realm of football. Football, the worlds most popular the spirit of the game. But what about the fairness sport played by almost every remotely known and integrity of a game which is part and parcel country on the face of this planet, is particularly of everyones life in a country like India. Arent we known for its continuity and momentum. Once the asking too much for the sake of entertainment, which whistle is blown the game runs like a nuclear reactor, actually is an integral part of any sport and no one uninterrupted with 22 players scrambling all over can sunder them apart so easily. the field for the possession of a chequered ball. But things are no different in the case of football if one is It came as a bit of surprise to me when our beloved looking up to FIFA for fairness and justice especially MS Dhoni, who is at the helm of Indias World Cup after numerous incidents which had cost a fortune

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for some teams. Thanks now to FIFA president Sepp Blatter for reconsidering the introduction of technology. We hope that the system will be in place soon at the very least by the start of next FIFA World Cup 2014 to be held in Brazil. Its time to ponder over the numerous advantages which technology has served us in every walk of life until now and would continue to do. Maybe if you still see it as some sort of interference then why not as a divine intervention whose sole aim is to guide us all through the path of probity and justness.

THE DIVINE INTERVENTION

Cricket addicts can follow the link for UDRS rule book presented on the ICC website: http://static.icccricket.yahoo.net/ugc/documents/DOC_39EFCA4C7 A2F335D543EF937F162F837_1257924398353_687. pdf

About the Author:Priyadarshan Gupta a.k.a PDG is a Software Developer by profession and an avid football follower. His interests range from running to reality shows. But cricket is not one of his passions.

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ONE TO ALL(Psycho - Cosmology)By Nalin Kishore

absence of true understanding, one creates further responds to all life situations, varies in-between problems in the ignorant pursuit of solving them. This extreme individualistic (vyashti) and absolute is what is happening everywhere in our society and government. All this often brings cosmic (samashti) forms. However extremes or absolutes are usually Human destiny is a prisoner about the feeling that we are living in a mad world, which is doomed to imaginary and reality is relative. So of ones own perception. destruction! everybodys basic vision actually falls in between the two extremes of the continuum of human perception, though mostly near the former. Moreover, as nothing remains static in this ever-dynamic universe, ones genetically and situationally shaped perception keeps creeping towards either of the opposite ends of this continuum forever. Here the law of linear progression through spiraling motion applies. Perception induces action and that, in turn, further reinforces perception. This way, human beings generally tend to be increasingly individualistic or cosmic in nature in the course of life. Therefore, Human destiny is a prisoner of ones own perception.

Human perception, by which one understands and

of differentiation between oneself and others. From sense of dissimilarity arises the urge for comparative evaluation. However, as we start evaluating, we lose our capacity to understand human relations. Moreover, comparison leads to superiority and inferiority complexes - setting off biased behavior that prevents neutrality of mind, which is essential for true and clear vision. Unity and equality among individualists is lost, breeding jealousy, antagonism and conflicts instead. This causes tension inside and all around them. And tension is the top killer Individualism involves growing egocentricity. Ones surpassing tobacco, today! ego, the I-ness, identifies with bodily qualifications like color, shape etc. as well as mental ones like beliefs Even the wars being fought between religions and and habits. The egoists find themselves, i.e. the sum nations are basically ego-conflicts. For collective of respective identities, at the centre of their world identities such as family, cast, race etc. are mere - view. And ego-satisfaction lies in freezing, layer enlargements of individual identities. Any sense upon layer, their respective identities by perpetually of collectivism - large or small, old or new is no living in accordance. This phenomenon forms as sane substitute for universalism. Only in such cases, many unique individual perceptions, as egoists in deadly individualism takes up the hallowed garb of the world. But all preconditioned perceptions block collectivism, viz. Hinduism and Islam, to gain further and distort objective signals received by the senses. destructive potential. Because irrational herd-instinct, So the same event or message may have different that undermines individual rationality, is an essential interpretations, feature of group behavior. One plus one, thereby, Individualism involves growing though there becomes as effective as eleven in causing horror and is only one destruction, as on 7/7 and 9/11. However, no one egocentricity w h o l e s o m e cares to stop the waste of precious life energy, in this truth. Which ego induced conflicts and tension, which is naturally means most of us being individualists, lack the truthful weakening, sickening and killing. It is a living-Hell! vision. This is the real MAYA affecting human minds, because of which they are perceptually illusioned Herd-instinct, that undermines individual and, therefore, perpetually blind to the explicit and rationality, is an essential feature of group implicit truths of life as a whole. Moreover, in the

Such maddening individualism is also the source

behavior.

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of all major economic, political and social systems in vogue. For example, at the core of reigning freemarket capitalism lies the psychological assumption of individualism. Whereby, free (for all) competition is thought to Selfishness - an expression of promote individual individualism - has become enterprise and growth and the a socially desirable and summation of individual growth appreciated basic virtue. is supposed to bring about social growth. However, is it a psychologically tenable and, therefore, materially practical thesis today? Firstly, the Earth cannot sustain competitive production and consumption any more. Nor can the best of productivity be achieved through intra-organizational competition. Even the politics of the day is best run by various ilks of democratic game plans. Where voters are supposed to vote in favor of individual or group interests or both and the elected leaders are granted explicit right to fight for ever-greater personal share in the political powercake. Selfishness - an expression of individualism as such, has become socially desirable and appreciated basic virtue. But isnt this so-called virtue actually the source of all human vices?

Nevertheless, individualism is the guiding principle

ONE TO ALLIdentification

own collective existence and growth. When we want nothing (deeply), get everything (of value)! with body is the prime basis of individualistic perception. As our body differs, so do we. But isnt this a superficial view? Scientific insight suggests that all human bodies are made of common matter and all matters are made of common energy. So, how are we different? Moreover, energy is dynamic by nature and, thus, keeps changing its form forever. Energy-matter-energy cycle perpetually goes on in nature. Identifying with material form brings about the negative sense of individualism and I am the world and the separateness. While world is me identification with all-intrinsic energy form leads to the unified cosmic vision, when one spontaneously proclaims like J. Krishnamurti,I am the world and the world is me. Or like Vedic Rishis, one declares,Aham Brahmasmi, where Brahma means the primal cosmic energy that shapes and powers the whole of diverse and dynamic physical world. The common religious symbol of God too, in pure sense, is characterized by omnipresence and omnipotence. God-realization, therefore, essentially implies attaining all-inclusive cosmic perception or Sarwa-ekatwa bodh in the words of Upnishad.

The

cumulative effect of this mother of all vices was not quite visible a few centuries ago, because Just imagine a social situation wherein most of there were much fewer people with lesser needs its members deeply realize the ultimate truth of in then abundant world. But now, with booming cosmic unity and, hence, actually feel that all are the population having spiraling needs same. If we perceive all as oneself, Nationalism has been the on this withering earth, clashes of then who is the different other to individual and group interests are largest cause of death and compare with and feel jealous of? causing conflicts in every home and When all is one, hurting others is street. Moreover, group clashes due to destruction in human history. like hurting oneself. Then cutthroat different hues of communalism and competitions and clashes look communism too is stoking the fire of social violence ridiculous and, therefore, become impossible for the all over. Nationalism has been the single-largest cause rational self. As the difference between life and death of death and destruction in human history. Todays also dissolves in a cosmic mind, all fears and tensions most horrific fact is that so much firepower rests at vanish forever. When social psyche will attain such the fingertips of ever fighting egoists in the world, universal vision; true sense of unity, equality will that can destroy most of the life forms from the globe, permeate all human relations, and thus, peace not once or twice but many times mathematically. In will perpetually prevail. And the all-potent peace such a critical situation, it is high time that human essentially brings out human happiness, creativity beings begin realizing the un-sustainability of and prosperity for oneself and all around. However, individualism - induced selfish behavior for their is this glorious scenario a mere piece of impossible

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fiction like Harry Potters? If so, isnt thinking of of a three-way practice of thought-awareness, thoughtlessness and thoughtless-awareness. We impossible irrational? have to begin with the first, which involves looking feelings and thinking through Well, many of the previous improbable are possible within onesnon - judgmental (Nirgun) manner.ones thoughts in This today and some of the present impossible will also is essential initially, for incessant and uncontrolled turn possible in future. In fact, creativity is all about thinking distorts our conscious perception. Only a challenging impossible and making some of them silent mind can perceive the facts of a phenomenon possible. So, nothing is impossible for creative clearly. Otherwise, even the best of logical thinking people, attitudinally at least. Moreover, every cannot help us have its true understanding. creative moment is essentially characterized by selfTherefore, perception and thinking should be done forgetfulness and thus, holistic vision. Such state of alternatively, not simultaneously. But we need to mind is more conducive for lateral thinking, which understand our thoughts thoroughly to be able to has been the source of all inventions and positive control and cease thinking at will. The first practice developments in human civilization. Hence, as helps in this. human problems are growing exponentially, so is the need for creativity; which is an essential product of expanding consciousness. The second practice of thoughtlessness involves conscious quietening of mind and body by following and letting go everything else. Frequent Once Spinoza said, Democracy can succeed only ones breathof thought process conserves life-energy, suspension when the majority of the citizens feel actively as thinking consumes it the most, and raises the level responsible for everything happening in the state. of energy in mind and body, making us healthier and Otherwise, individualism - centric present forms of more efficient. On the other hand, thought based divisive democracies will lead the world to social self-identity too is dissolved, leaving one with the war and chaos as well as environmental catastrophe. whole. Inner silence is always enlightening. The third However, once ones mind is trapped in a positive practice of thoughtless-awareness is called Choice spiral from individualism towards nationalism in true less Awareness by J. Krishnamurti and Stithipragya sense, only a bit of situational resilience ensures his or or Sahaj Samadhi in Hindu scriptures. Indeed, her movement towards globalism and universalism. thinking is as difficult for wise, as non-thinking is for Even capitalist economic systems can now survive unwise- Maharshi Raman. All the above modes of and succeed only with cultivation of mental practices, eventually, the sense of Gandhian Trusteeship Human mind can be evolved by are the components of among the capitalists- like Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Azim Premji. a three-way practice of thought- ancient meditation methods. No wonder, therefore, that all awareness, thoughtlessness and the aforesaid persons were One to All evolution of individual commonly meditative in thoughtless-awareness. mind has never been impossible. The nature. human history is replete with many such examples: Vedic Rishis, Gautam Buddha, Jesus Christ, Prophet The only silver-lining in the individualism-induced Mohammad to name a few absolute ones of the dark clouds of corruption, crime and conflict at ancient times. Many more saintly characters, being present, is the accelerating spread of meditation close to the cosmic end of the perceptual continuum, practices all over the world. For, meditation is like have shown light on the path for humanity in the a mental bath that cleans up our perception off past. Nor are near-cosmic beings completely absent illusions. Regular meditation, as such, promotes even today. truthful, dynamic and universal mindset. However, real and regular practitioners of meditation still In fact, human mind, which is the source of individual form a mere miniscule of human population, which and collective behavior, can be evolved by means is clearly not enough to significantly influence our

ONE TO ALL

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collective perception. Multi-layered global power structure is yet manned and managed mostly by die-hard individualists, whose divisive-illusions has seeped deeper into their unconscious mind. And why not, they have been taught various differentiations at home, school, work-place and the society in general since more than nine generations. Many of our public policies too are based on perpetual differentiations. Such politically and culturally acclaimed illusion of basic diversity, however, necessarily leads to clashes of individual and group identities and interests. That, of course, has brought the world to the brink of total disaster with the help of modern science and technology.

ONE TO ALL

So, what we urgently require today is a strong cosmic

movement, focused more on younger ones in human society. Whereby, people should be preached the truth of universal unity and equality more by deeds than words. So, let us practice and propagate the essential cosmic oneness. This is the core truth of all principal religions as well. We just need to live in the core and shun the superficial. After all, dont we forget ourselves in the moment of personal or universal Love?

About the Author:Nalin Kishore teaches management in Patna. He has extensively read and researched philosophy, spiritualism and meditation techniques.

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TRENDS - SuMMER 2011By Anupama Mantry

ready reached baking alive levels in Mumbai), it is time to update your wardrobe. Well fashion is a cycle which keeps going round and round. So here we are with the 70s coming back with a bang again this season. So you are going to see the bohemian & hippie look with a lot of high waisted pants, trousers with relaxed legs, and skirts; peasant blouses, safari jackets, hot pants etc. Also midi & maxi is the new hemline to have, so forget your minis and get out those 3/4th length skirts and dresses that you have been saving in your cupboards.

The summers are here and with the mercury rising at a rapid rate (it has al-

Must haves this season:Hyper Colors:Go colorful with wild electric blues, citrus, bright pinks, candy greens, and teals. Combining your colors with black will create a great effect. Remember to go chunky with loads of bangles or different shapes; the more the merrier. (But make sure you look into a mirror before stepping out, you wouldnt want to blind others with a combination of purple and fluorescent green) Men can go colorful with their shirts, tees, shorts etc. but be super careful when trying them in pants or trousers. If u cant carry them off, then they are not for you.

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TRENDS - SuMMER 2011

Laces:Laces add that delicate and feminine touch to your attire. So this season have them on your tops, shorts, skirts, and dresses for that feminine look. A sexy, full lace dress would get those heads turning and also get you those jealous stares, trust me on this. You can even do it as a DIY project and prep up your old shorts or skirts with some dyed to match laces.

The mini may be sexy and still in fashion with hot pants, but the comfortable midi and the elegant maxi are the new hemlines this season. So have those skirts and dresses go the 3/4th length or all the way down to the floor. Your trousers too can go the 3/4th way.

Midi & Maxi:

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TRENDS - SuMMER 2011

High waist pants:The buzz this season will be the high waist, relaxed leg pants. Even the skirts are rising on the waist now. Team them up with shirts or short tops for that exquisite look. But remember to show that high waist, the point of it would be totally lost if you decide to wear a long top over it.

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TRENDS - SuMMER 2011

Bold Prints:Forget the ditsies; bold and large prints are in with flora, fauna and fruita. So have those large flowers or polka dots on your dresses or python n leopard print skirts and bags or tops with large abstracts and psychedelic prints. The larger and bolder they are, the better they look this season. Although you can wear fruita prints, but learn to recognize that fine line between fruita and Hawaiian.

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TRENDS - SuMMER 2011

Whites:Dont forget to wear your whites this summer. Team up that classic white shirt with a blue jeans or a basic white full sleeved tee with high waist trouser. Or go all white with white lacy dresses, white suits with trouser/ skirts or the famous India version of the classic white salwar/chudidar kameez with a bright colored dupatta. Men can stick to the white shirts and tee shirts and for the bolder ones can try out the white trousers. White shorts, cargos and 3/4ths are more in style for you. You may go all white but do remain one step short of being termed as Jitendra.

Platforms:Remember those platforms that were the IN thing a few years back? Well they are IN again. So forget the classic stilts for now and get those platforms. They are comfy and yet stylish.

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TRENDS - SuMMER 2011Waist Belts:Wear those belts higher clinched around your waist to highlight that tiny waist. Belts are available in various designs and colors. Team them up with tops and dresses for maximum effect. And no, you may not wear it with your salwar kameez.

The Jumpsuit:

Go sexy with the heavy industries - workers inspired jumpsuits or catsuits. Available in various modifications, these are a must have in your wardrobe this summer. Please remember that these are not meant for those who are a little on the heavier side as they may make you look more bulky. So enjoy the summers with these must haves and be the talk of town!

About the Author:Anupama Mantry works in the Fashion & Apparels industry and is a Fashion Retail Buyer at a Danish firm. She did her graduation from NIFT Mumbai. Although fashion is her chosen career, she has always been an adventure enthusiast at heart. Photographs: courtesy Harpers Bazar.

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THE LEGEND OF MADHO SINGH RAWAT BOOK REVIEW: OuTLIERSBy Kinnari Sathe

is a non-fiction book written by Malcolm Gladwell.Malcom Gladwell has the unusual ability for seeking common-sense explanations for apparent coincidences and problems of everyday life. He also seems determined to overturn conventional notions about fundamental concepts that have always been taken granted for. This is evident in his first book, Tipping Point, where he challenged the notion: big changes come from big efforts. In Outliers, he reasons why some people are more successful than others. In the process pointing out that talent, intelligence, and skill are not the real determiners of fantastic success but that people with these traits require some substantial help along the way if they are to become outliers in their chosen pursuits.

Outliers: The Story of Success

So who or what is an outlier? An outlier by definition

spent well more than 10,000 hours as a programmer. is something or someone situated away from Although it is impossible to undermine Gatess talent or completely different from the main body or and drive, but that he had the opportunity enhancing majority an exception. For Gladwell, an outlier is this talent cannot be denied either. an individual, so truly exceptional in his/her field of Outliers has much in common with Gladwells expertise that it gives a new definition to the term earlier work. It is a pleasure to read and leaves you success. Bill Gates (Microsoft) is an outlier and so is mulling over its inventive theories for days afterward. Steve Jobs (Apple), Robert Oppenheimer (father of For instance, you need at least 10,000 hours on the clock to master a skill! Communication techniques the atomic bomb). varying across cultures can cause airline crashes! the book is not well substantiated by research in places and sometimes appears to be a long drawn argument the author is having with himself! This is particular infuriating as it would have been wonderful to substantiate and make sense of seemingly conflicting ideas. Another thing that bothers is that he sticks predominantly to America, it would have been more interesting if he had travelled

Gladwell starts with tales of individual greatness and then adds details that undercut the tale. He thus attempts at offering a more complete understanding of success. For example, Bill Gates, the computer genius, founder of Microsoft did not succeed in becoming an outlier only because of his exceptional ability but also because he lucked into the opportunity to use the computers at the University of Washington, for hours on end. By the time he turned 20, he had

However,

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a bit over the world to see if the same theories hold true elsewhere.

THE LEGEND OF MADHO SINGH RAWAT BOOK REVIEW: OuTLIERS

The book has an undercurrent of a political manifestofor social reforms as well. If our world had given a million teenagers the same opportunity as Bill Gates, how many more Microsofts would we have had today? Gladwell urges us to rethink and does a pretty good job of it!

About the Author:Kinnari Sathe has a doctorate in Neurobiology from Aberdeen university. Apart from dissecting human and mice brains, she likes to read and write in her free time. She also likes to talk, and used to host a radio music show during her stay in Scotland.

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SCARSBy Mallikarjun

She was placed on a pyre. Her husbands cold carcass Diya are you all right? Kunti Bhabhi is at the door.lay in front of her. The wood was neatly stacked to make a platform. Their family had leased their land to procure the wood it was precious here. It was his funeral. And hers too. She was clad in a white saree, and around her was a conglomeration of people young and old in white. From far, you wouldnt even notice the event, camouflaged by the desert under a hot afternoon sun. Everyone was looking at her with glazed eyes. Their palms were joined, as if to pray. She realized that she didnt want to die. This was not what she had dreamt of. In panic, she tried to jump off and flee, but all she managed was to stumble and fall on her face. Strong hands lifted her and placed her back on the pyre. There was sand in her eyes, she could not see clearly. But she could hear the priests chant. She could smell the smoke, from the burning of wood. Then suddenly it started getting unbearably hot. She froze in fear. The chanting grew louder as others joined in. No one could hear her blood curdling screams. The flames touched the sky, and with them her screams also died down.

She must have been woken up by my scream. She is like an elder sister to me, although I am her Jethani, my husband being the eldest of the brothers. Didi, I dont want to stay here anymore. There is nothing for me here. Where will you go? What will you do? Sanjana Madam from Sanyukta Foundation gave me her number. Last time she wanted to take me with her to study in a good school there. But the elders never agreed. Very well. We will see what can be done tomorrow. Go to sleep now, you look tired. But sleep doesnt come to me. Instead, I dream with my eyes open.

Sapna are you ok? You have been here continuouslyfor two days. I am fine, Sid. I just dozed off for a minute. Stop dreaming. Lots of people are here, and want to talk to you.

wake up with a shriek. I am alive! It was just a nightmare. My saree is drenched with sweat. It glows in the moonlight filtering through the window. I feel Rajeshwars cold, listless body next to me. He had died this afternoon, while working in the fields. They say the heat got to him. He was very old and stooped. I was summoned in school and given the news. I had cried. When I reached home, I was stripped by some old women I had never seen before, and draped in a white saree. I was fifteen. He must have been around seventy. Who knows, he had always looked the same. The sound of incessant wailing filled the house and the courtyard. I felt numb. I was not attached to him. He was too old and weak to feel or do anything to me. I was like an inanimate object in the house, like the chair, or the bed, confined by the walls. I am now in a room with a smelly dead body. Will I be stuck within these boundaries forever? Or is his death my liberation as everyone was saying?

I

I get up. The colors dancing off the murals sooth me. Siddharrth is now talking to the patrons. I go back to staring into the canvas. Is this the latest one? an elderly lady standing next to me asks. Yes. Whats the title? Scars. Its beautiful. I think its your best creation. Thank you. I had it in mind for a long time. Just couldnt muster courage earlier to paint it. The woman in the white saree smiles at me from the painting. You use a lot of colors. All your paintings are so full of life. Perhaps it is because I come from the land of sun and sand, gold and glitter.

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SCARSSiddharth, I really am tired. I shall freshen up and come back in a couple of hours. Please let me know if anything comes up. Thanks. I hold his firm and reassuring hand and walk out, into the maze of people, ready to be lost.

About the Author:Mallikarjun is an IIT graduate, trying to find his vocation in life. Meanwhile he spends his time reading, writing and overanalyzing things. He also likes to trek, rock climb, cycle, play ultimate, and lately run long distance.

I thank all the writers, and other people who helped me with the editing, proof reading and design. I hope to make this magazine better with each issue. For queries about contribution, comments, suggestions and complaints please mail me at: mallik.basu@gmail.com or drop a message on my facebook or twitter pages.